Travel Agents Can Save Time, Money

CONSUMER

Ask a travel agent about the best way to plan a trip and there is no hesitation in the reply.

"Go see a reputable travel agent," local agents will tell you. "You'll save time and it doesn't cost the consumer a dime."

With summer vacations on the horizon, travel agents also want consumers to know it is never too soon to plan a trip.

"For convenience and reliability, it's just easier to work with a travel agent," said Dawn Ringel, spokeswoman for the Institute of Certified Travel Agents, or ICTA, in Wellesley, Mass. "You can plan your own trip, but you'd better be prepared to do hours of research and phone calling."

That does not mean people planning trips should not research information about their destinations, said Diane Rosacker, president of Red Carpet World Travel and Tours Inc. in Delray Beach.

"It's easier to work with an informed tourist," said Rosacker, who has been a certified travel agent for 25 years. "They know what they want, what part of the city or country they would like to stay in and are aware of the history of their destination. You have more fun if you know details about where you are going."

Rosacker and other agents suggest that would-be travelers check out their local bookstores and libraries for specific travel guides for specific destinations. Among the commonly used guides for cities and countries are Fodor's, Michelin and Insight.

"A good travel agent can provide brochures and travel information for any destination," said Tom Harlin, spokesman for the 23,000-member American Society of Travel Agents, or ASTA, in Alexandria, Va.

Although statistics show that 85 percent of Americans use a travel agent to plan a trip, Harlin said some travelers insist on making arrangements themselves.

"Sure it's possible, and many people do make their own travel arrangements, but it takes a great deal of time," Harlin said. "Airline prices change 100 times a day, and a travel agent has access to those changes via computer. Plus, we check out all deals and packages that may be advertised in newspapers or magazines to make sure they are not fraudulent."

Harlin suggests consumers find a travel agent who matches their needs and personality.

"A good travel agent should give you a room with a sunny exposure ... or whatever you ask for," Harlin said. "He or she should not be overly aggressive and push things on you that you do not want."

The main reason to use travel agents is that they have information that is not accessible to the average consumer quickly, Harlin said. They also can provide information about visas, passports and foreign taxes, and have up-to-the-minute reservation and package deal information.

"Travel has become a larger and more complex industry than ever before," Harlin said. "It's easier to work with someone who knows the business."

Travel agents can help consumers sort out the reputable package tours, competing travel ads and numerous airline reservation restrictions and bargains, said Ringel of the Institute of Certified Travel Agents, which has tested and certified 18,000 travel agents internationally.

"No one wants to part with their hard-earned travel money foolishly," Ringel said. "It just makes sense to check out every available option."

Ringel provided a few questions consumers should ask themselves before making plans to travel:

-- What is your flexibility? For example, do you mind sharing bathrooms in a hotel?

-- Do you want to travel abroad like the natives, or go "Western-style?'' -- What have you spent on trips in the past?

-- What do you like to see when you travel? Museums? Beaches? Mountains?

"I think in terms of saving time and researching money-saving tour packages and travel plans, a travel agent is the best way to go when planning a trip," Ringel said.

"Consumers can help themselves out by reading travel sections in local newspapers and getting to the library or bookstore for travel books befoer they go. An informed tourist has more fun."